Dispensing container



June 12, DUELL DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 21, 1943 INVENTOR. dii'fi B. DveZZ Patented June 12, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE DISPENSING CONTAINER Edith B. Duel], Sharpsburg, Pa.

Application June 21, 1943, Serial No. 491,591

3 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing containers of the same general type as disclosed in United States Letters Patents Nos. 1,958,101 and 1,962,860, wherein are disclosed containers designed for the reception of a pluralityot tablets, or pills, and which containers comprise a main receptacle, or box portion, with a sliding cover adapted, when slid longitudinally of the container, to expose one or more of the tablets as desired. The containers disclosed insaid patents are particularly designed to permit of manipulation, or sliding of. the cover, relative to the container in such a way that the containers may he held in one hand of a user and one or more tablets successively exposed and so that one or more of the tablets as they are exposed may be put directly into the user's, mouth;

Although containers constructed in accordance with the underlying basic principles disclosed in said patents have recently gone into widespread use, they have certain limitations in that the specific constructional details of such containers limit their use to round flat tablets such as the conventional aspirin tablet. The evergrowing use and popularity for various types of vitamin pills, large numbers of which are sold in gelatin capsule form, have rendered it desirable to provide a container particularly designed for the capsule form of pills. It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a. new improved construction of dispensing container constructed in accordance with the underlying basic principles disclosed in said patents but particularly designed for the elongated round cylindrical capsules.

Another object is to provide a container in which the transverse barrier means provided on the bottom or tray portion of the container is particularly designed to facilitate the entry of a single capsule into the dispensing pocket which forms a characteristic of the containers disclosed in said patents, and to so construct such barrier that the cooperating barrier formed on the sliding cover will prevent jamming 0f the capsules and will also push the surplus tablets back into the main portion of the tray or receptacle as the cover is moved from closed to open position.

The above and other objects of the present invention will appear more fully from the followme more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of such container with a dil ill)

portion of the cover broken away and in section to show the construction of the cooperating barrier means.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a. plan view of the container showing the cover in opened position with a capsule in the dispensing pocket and in position to be readily emptied therefrom by turning the container to an upside down or sidewise tilting position.

As shown in the drawing the container comprises a fiat shallow receptacle or tray it of suitable rectangular construction, having two side walls 11 la, 1 lb each of which is provided along its upper edge with an outwardly projecting flange or rib it. Each of the flanges i2 is adapted to be engaged by a downwardly extending flange it formed one on each side ofa slidable cover ill, the flanges i3, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 having an inwardly turned extension i3-a which engages under the flange l2.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle it and projecting inwardly from the side wall i i--b thereof is a rib or barrier it, the rib it being spaced from the front end wall i t of the container to provide a dispensing pocket l'i adapted, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawing, to contain a single capsule it. The rib it, as clearly shown, has a straight portion extending substantially parallel with the wall it and a curved portion id-a directed inwardly and towards the back wall it of the receptacle and terminates in a rounded edge iii-b for a purpose presently to be described more fully.

The cover it adjacent the rear wall it is preferably provided with a small indentation to which engages with the rear wall it when the cover is in closed position to prevent accidental opening of the cover.

Projecting downwardly from the cover, adjacent the front edge thereof but spaced slightly inwardly from said edge, is a flange or barrier RE which towards the end opposite the dispensing pocket ii, is provided with a rearward extension 22.

The cover it is also preferably provided with raised portions in the central area thereof which "may taken the form of any suitable letter, design follows: Assuming that the main portion of the tray or receptacle, which is indicated generally by the reference character 25, is filled with capsules, the user may by tilting the front end of the container downwardly cause the capsules to roll towards the front end of the container. The spacing of the tip l5-b of the barrier l5-a from the side wall ll-a of the tray is such as to provide a space slightly less than the length of a capsule. Consequently, when the tray is tilted to cause the capsules to move or roll towards the front end of the tray, the lower end of a capsule will engage the tip |5b and cause the capsule to rotate around the end of the flange and more downwardly into the dispensing pocket I! assuming that the tablets have moved from the main portion 25 around the barrier in a vertical position such as illustrated by the two capsules I8 in the upper end of the view Fig. 2. If, however,

the capsules move from the main portion 25 towards the dispensing pocket in a non-vertical position, such as illustrated by the two capsules id in the upper part of Fig. 5, the tipl5-b of the barrier is not required to perform any turning function of the capsules.

After a capsule has moved into th dispensin pocket H, the cover l4 may he slid rearwardly until it engages with the curved portion iii-a of the barrier l5, which then serves as a sto'p to limit the opening movement of the cover with the parts being in a position as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing and in which position but a single capsule will remain in the uncovered portion of the box in the dispensing pocket. I! thereof.

As it is possible under certain conditions to have two capsules in engagement with the curved portion l5-a of the barrier l5, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 2, and lying exactly parallel with the barrier flange 2| of the cover, jamming of the cover by such capsules could occur when this condition arises. The rearwardly projecting rib 22 is provided on the cover to take care of this condition.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2, if two capsules are located in a position of alignment as shown in the upper part of the figure, as the cover 14 is moved toward the rear the flange or rib 22 will engage the upper edge of the left hand capsule shown at the top of Fig. 2 and push it rearwardly into the main body of the container causing the capsule to rotate about its lower end and move freely into the main body portion 25. If but a single capsul is located above the barrier, the flange 2| will push the same into the main body portion, likewise causing a rotation of the upper end of the capsule and pushing it through the space between the tip l5-b of the barrier and the side wall I l--a.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container comprising a shallow tray-like receptacle and a cover slidably mounted thereon, said container being particularly adapted for dispensing elongated'cylindrical capsules, barrier means projecting laterally into said receptacle from one side thereof having a portion extending substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the front end wall, of said receptacle a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a capsule and cooperating with said end wall to form an elongated dispensing pocket adapted to receive but a single one of said capsules, said barrier means having a curvilinear portion merging with said first named portion, projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle to provide a wide mouth entry to said dispensing pocket, said curvilinear portion at its innermost end being spaced from the opposite side wall of said container a distance slightly less than the length of one of said capsules whereby when said receptacle is tilted to cause capsules to pass from the main portion of said container towards said dispensing pocket, the innermost end of said barrier means will tend to engage said capsules and cause at least one of them to be rotated around said barrier means towards and into said dispensing pocket, and a second barrier means carried by said cover and cooperating with said first barrier means when said cover is slid from closed to opened position to form a substantially continuous transverse ,wall across said container to prevent capsules in the main body portion of said receptacle from moving towards said dispensing pocket when said cover is moved towards open position.

2. A dispensing container comprising a shallow tray-like receptacle and a cover slidably mounted thereon. said container being particularly adapted for dispensing elongated cylindrical capsules, barrier means projecting laterally into said receptacle from one side thereof having a portion extending substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the front end wall of said receptacle a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a capsule and cooperating with said end wall to form an elongated dispensing pocket adapted to receive but a single one of said capsules, said barrier means having a curvilinear portion merging with said first named portion, projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle to provide a wide mouth entry to said dispensing pocket, said curvilinear portion at its innermost end being spaced from the opposite side wall of said container a distance slightly less than the length of one of said capsules whereby when said receptacle is tilted to cause capsules to pass from the main portion of said container towards said dispensing pocket the innermost end of said barrier means will tend to engage said capsules and cause at least one of them to be rotated around said barrier means towards and into said dispensing pocket, and a second barrier means carried by said cover projecting from the opposite side wall transversely across said receptacle beyond the innermost end of the said curvilinear barrier means whereby said curvilinear barrier means will serve as a stop to limit the sliding movement of said cover.

3. A dispensing container comprising a shallow tray-like receptacle and a cover slidably mounted thereon, said container being particularly adapted for dispensing elongated cylindrical capsules, barrier means projecting laterally into said receptacle from one side thereof having a portion extending substantially arallel to, and spaced from, the front end wall of said receptacle a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a capsule and cooperating with said end wall to form an elongated dispensing pocket adapted to receive but a single one of said capsules, said barrier means having a curvilinear portion merging with said first named portion, projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle to provide awide mouth entry to said dispensing pocket, said curvilinear portion at its innermost end being spaced from the opposite side wall of said container a distance slightly less than the length of one of said capsules whereby when said receptacle is tilted to cause capsules to pass from the main por= tion of said container towards said dispensing pocket the innermost end of said barrier means will tend to engage said capsules and cause at least one of them to be rotated around said barrier means towards and into said dispensing pocket, and a second barrier means carried by said cover projecting from the opposite side wall transversely across said receptacle beyond the innermost end of the said curvilinear barrier means whereby said curvilinear barrier means will serve as a stop to limit the sliding movement of said cover, and said second barrier means having an inwardly projecting portion for engaging any capsules which may have passed in front of said curvilinear barrier means in addition to the one in said dispensing pocket, to move said additional capsules rearwardly into the main body portion of said receptacle as said cover is slid from closed to opened position.

4. A dispensing container comprising a shallow tray-like receptacle and a cover slidably mounted thereon, said container being particularly adapted for dispensing elongated cylindrical capsules, barrier means projecting laterally into said receptacle from one side thereof having a portion extending substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the front end wall of said receptacle a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a capsule and cooperating with said end wall to form an elongated dispensing pocket adapted to receive but a single one of said capsules, said barrier means having a curvilinear portion merging with said first named portion, projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle to provide a wide mouth entry to said dispensing pocket, said curvilinear portion at its innermost end being spaced from the opposite side wall of said container a distance slightly less than the length of one of said capsules whereby when said receptacle is tilted to cause capsules to pass from the main portion of said container towards said dispensing pocket the innermost end of said barrier means will tend to engage said capsules and cause at least one of them to be rotated around said barrier means towards and into said dispensing pocket, and a second barrier means carried by said cover projecting from the opposite side wall transversely across said receptacle beyond the innermost end of the said curvilinear barrier means whereby said curvilinear barrier means will serve as a stop to limit the sliding movement of said cover,

and said second barrier means having an inwardi 1y projecting portion for engaging any capsules which may have passed in front of said curvilinear barrier means in addition to the one in said dispensing pocket, to move said additional capsules rearwardly into the main body portion of said receptacle as said cover is slid from closed to opened position, said curvilinear barrier means having its innermost portion curved upon a radius of curvature such that any capsules which may be engaged with said innermost curved portion, as said cover is slid from closed to opened position, will be engaged by said second barrier means and rotated around said curvilinear barrier means rearwardly into the main body portion of said receptacle.

5. A dispensing container comprising a shallow tray-like receptacle and a cover slidably mounted thereon, and particularly adapted for dispensing elongated cylindrical shaped capsules, barrier means projecting transversely into said receptacle from one side thereof and having a portion adjacent to said side wall of said receptacle extending substantially parallel to the front wall of said receptacle and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the capsules to be dispensed and having an inner curvilinear portion merging with said straight portion and projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle and terminating short of the opposite side wall thereof a distance slightly less 'barrier means projecting transversely into said receptacle from one side thereof and having a portion adjacent to said side wall of said receptacle extending substantially parallel to the front wall of said' receptacle and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the capsules to be dispensed to form a dispensing pocket and having an inner curvilinear portion merging with said straight portion and projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle and terminating short of the opposite side wall thereof a distance slightly less than the length of the capsules to be dispensed, and a second barrier means carried by said cover and projecting into said receptacle and transversely across the same beyond the innermost end of said curvilinear barrier means and said curvilinear portion serving as a g'uideway to direct one capsule at a time endwise into said dispensing pocket.

'7. A dispensing container comprising a shallow tray-like receptacle and a cover slidably mounted thereon, and particularly adapted for dispensing elongated cylindrical shaped capsules, barrier means projecting transversely into said receptacle from one side thereof and having a portion adjacent to said side wall of said receptacle extending substantially parallel to the front wall of said receptacle and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the capsules to be dispensed to form a dispensing pocket and having an inner curvilinear portion merging with said straight portion and projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle and terminating short of the opposite side wall thereof a distance slightly less than the length of the capsules to be dispensed, and a second barrier means carried by said cover and projecting into said receptacle and transversely across the same beyond the innermost end of said curvilinear barrier means, said second barrier means co-opertending substantially parallel to the front wall of said receptacle and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the capsules to be dispensed to form a dispensing pocket and having an inner curvilinear portion merging with said straight portion and projecting inwardly and rearwardly of said receptacle and terminating short of the opposite side wall thereof a distance slightiy less than the length of the capsules to be dispensed, and a second barrier means carried by said cover and projecting into said receptacle and transversely across the same-beyond the innermost end of said curvilinear barrier means and said second barrier means being provided with a rearwardly extending projection for engaging the upper portion of any capsule lying in front of said curvilinear portion in parallelism with the front wallot said container for causing said any capsule to be rotated about said curvilinear portion rearwardly into said receptacle.

EDITH B. DU'ELL. 

